Deputy National Police Chief Commissioner General Dedi Prasetyo said the suspects are part of the 5,444 people initially detained during demonstrations in Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, Makassar, Medan, and other cities.
“Only 583 are undergoing further legal process. Investigators are gathering evidence to determine their roles, including potential intellectual authors, financiers, and field operatives,” Prasetyo said at a press briefing.
The National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) is conducting a detailed analysis to establish the extent of each individual's involvement.
Investigators are focusing on whether the suspects participated in acts such as arson, vandalism, theft, looting, or attacks on public and police infrastructure.
Prasetyo stressed that all prosecutions must be supported by scientific evidence to proceed to trial.
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He added that police are working to identify minors among the suspects. If children are involved, authorities will prioritize restorative justice in line with child protection laws.
“We're coordinating with the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), the National Commission on Child Protection (Komnas Anak), and the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) to assess their cases fairly,” he said.
Minors in custody will receive different treatment from adult suspects, he added.
The protests, sparked by public anger over the House of Representatives’ perceived excessive allowances and political decisions, escalated into riots in several cities during the final week of August.
Authorities reported multiple deaths, mostly civilians uninvolved in the demonstrations, and extensive damage, including the burning of local government offices and other public facilities.
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Translator: Agatha Olivia, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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